At Pacific Private Money, we strive to provide best-in-class alternative financing solutions for real estate transactions. Our team of experienced professional has built and earns a reputation for transparency, speed, and reliability.
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6 Leading with Purpose: AAPL’s Impact on Private Lending and Women in Finance By Stephen Beale, Contributing Writer for Originate Report
16 How To Take A Punch: Principles of Fighting In Business
Morton Wealth: The Advantages of Having Women Lead
20 Angela I. Lynn, Founder & CEO, Lynn Capital Partners
Stacy Havener, Founder & CEO, Havener Capital Partners
51 Liquid Logics Announces New Integration of Trustpoint
52 Genesis Capital Closes Largest Ever Rated Residential Transition Loan Securitization
54 Real Estate Fintech Backflip Announces $15 Million Series A Fundraise, Crosses $10M Net Revenue Run Rate
56 Saluda Grade Awarded both RMBS Issuer of the Year and RMBS Deal of the Year at the 2024 GlobalCapital US Securitization Awards
57 Liquid Logics Celebrates 20 Years of Innovation and Excellence in Loan Management Solutions
Partner & CEO, Geraci LLP
ANTHONY GERACI
a.geraci@geracillp.com
Chief Marketing Officer, Marketing
LESLEY BOYD
l.boyd@geracillp.com
Creative Director
LYNDA HIGHT
l.hight@geracillp.com
Graphic Designer
NICO ADOREMOS
n.adoremos@geracillp.com
Social Media Manager
MEGHAN SWEENEY
m.sweeney@geracillp.com
CONTRIBUTORS
Dana Georgiou
Brandwyn Boyle
Stephen Beale
Cami Macias
Welcome to the June Edition of Originate Report!
“Here’s to strong women: May we know them. May we be them. May we raise them.” – Unknown
Empowering women isn’t just a goal; it’s a mission that drives us forward, opening doors to new possibilities and inspiring others along the way. This month, Originate Report proudly shines a spotlight on some of the remarkable women shaping the landscape of private lending. Their stories of resilience, leadership, and triumph serve as beacons of hope and empowerment for all who aspire to follow in their footsteps.
Linda Hyde’s journey at the American Association of Private Lenders (AAPL) exemplifies transformative leadership and dedication. Initially intending to maintain a low profile, Hyde’s proactive approach quickly elevated her to pivotal roles, culminating in her presidency in 2023. Surrounded by a strong team, Hyde’s tenure has been marked by significant growth, expanding AAPL’s membership from 100 to nearly 800 and enhancing member services. Under her guidance, AAPL has introduced various initiatives: including educational webinars, industry-specific job boards, legislative advocacy, and a robust annual conference. Hyde’s leadership style, characterized by vision and operational excellence, has not only advanced AAPL but also championed the representation of women in finance, fostering a predominantly female team including Kat Hungerford, Shaylee Hennings, and Chrisy Spencer, that thrives on collaboration and empowerment.
As we highlight the achievements of women in private lending, we also look ahead to the future. The Geraci Conferences team is diligently preparing for our flagship event, Captivate, which will take place August 19-20 at the Encore at Wynn Las Vegas. This premier event promises quality networking, education, and deal-making opportunities, gathering hundreds of your peers from across the industry.
In the pages of this month’s issue, you’ll find stories of women who have risen to the occasion, celebrating their successes, and understanding their struggles. We thank all the women who have shared their experiences with us, knowing they will inspire the next generation of leaders.
At Originate Report, we are currently gearing up for our Captivate Special Edition, and we are eager to feature companies making significant strides in the industry. If you have a story to share, we would love to hear from you!
Till Next Time...
When Linda Hyde arrived at the American Association of Private Lenders, she was determined to keep a low profile.
A decade later, she became its president.
In her previous career, Hyde held a highly visible management position overseeing more than 200 call center representatives. Burned out after two decades of long hours and a “straight-jacket” corporate leadership structure, Hyde was ready to prioritize her family. Further, her role as AAPL’s new member relations coordinator was intended to be temporary until the association’s then-parent company, Affinity Worldwide, launched its own call center.
“I was just going to hide in the corner and do my own thing [at AAPL]. I thought I would be able to work by myself, do my job, and go home,” Hyde told the Originate Report, “It didn’t work out that way. I got bored and started taking over.”
AAPL was founded in 2009 at a time of crisis for the finance industry at large: The federal government was spending billions to bail out banks, foreclosures had reached record highs, and the economy was deep in recession. The shift in the economic landscape created a gap between what borrowers needed and what banks were willing to lend.
AAPL stepped in and helped shape the emerging industry that would fill that gap—private lending.
For the first two weeks after onboarding in 2013, Hyde had no phone, no tasks, and no expectations set for her position. Quickly growing bored, she found a phone and started taking calls to get to know the association’s membership, which at the time barely numbered 100. But that number wasn’t yet documented. Hyde needed a baseline, so she began collecting performance indicators to benchmark the association and map where it could go.
Within a year she was promoted to director of operations and membership services.
Meanwhile, the association’s thenparent company, Affinity Worldwide, welcomed new leadership: Eddie Wilson joined as CEO in 2015. He soon made the unpleasant discovery that AAPL was bleeding more than $700,000 a year. Among the financial paperwork provided to him was a report detailing membership, profit and loss, and other key performance indicators.
“OK, well somebody has something going on here,” Wilson recalled in a 2023 speech at AAPL’s Annual Conference. “So, I went to the person who was leading the organization at that time, and I said, ‘Who put this report together?’”
The executive claimed credit for it. “I started asking questions and right off the bat it was very apparent that they did not put this report together,” Wilson said.
He asked again who created the report and this time was told it was Hyde — “this lady who sits in the back corner.” Had she been directed to compile the report? No, Wilson was told, she had just done it on her own.
Wilson walked out of the meeting to hunt for the “back corner.” That was the first time he met Hyde. Wilson would go on to promote Hyde to managing director within six months.
“Linda is a rare mixture of vision and operations. She leads by example and loves our members,” Wilson told the Originate Report . “AAPL’s success is directly related to her guidance and leadership.”
In 2023, and at the same conference where he told the story of how he and Hyde met, Wilson announced Hyde as AAPL’s president, describing her as someone who “pushed from the back and the bottom trying to make this association what it should be.”
Wilson also described the move as long overdue. “She’s served as the de-facto president for years,” he said. “It’s time she had the title to go with the job.”
Wilson stepped into a chairman role for the association with minority owner Anthony Geraci, CEO and partner of Geraci LLP, as vice chairman.
A home and a place to grow In the decade since Hyde compiled that first KPI report, membership has grown from barely more than 100 to nearly 800. She credits it to building a team of like-minded individuals who share her drive and initiative.
One of Hyde’s major hires was Kat Hungerford, AAPL’s digital project manager. The position entails a broad range of responsibilities. Apart from its annual conference, almost everything the association produces is digital, from myriad website resources to webinars and online courses. Hungerford is also the executive editor of AAPL’s flagship print and digital magazine, Private Lender, and is the go-to staffer for the association’s three advisory committees.
“We’ve got a small team, so our positions are very much a jack-ofall-trades,” Hungerford told the Originate Report .
Hungerford’s adaptability is how she ultimately found her way to the AAPL.
“I bounced around between [several Affinity Worldwide subsidiaries] as a quasi-problem-solver,” Hungerford said.
sold off substantially all its assets, Wilson took ownership of two: AAPL and Think Realty, a media platform for real estate investors. He placed both companies under Hyde’s oversight. Amid the shuffle, Hyde had her pick of more than a hundred employees set to be downsized. She chose Hungerford after seeing her in action on a few association and related subsidiary projects.
“Linda not only gave me my first stable professional home since I joined Affinity Worldwide in 2015, but in contrast to a lot of other projects I worked on, she allowed me room to grow and expand my skill base,” Hungerford said. “Linda will tell you she has a vision for a project and then I get to execute it and make something impactful not only for the association but also the industry.”
Offering another perspective on Hyde’s development as a leader is Craig Johnson, one of her direct reports with AAPL’s sister company Think Realty. Johnson, her chief of staff, has a unique vantage point: He was her boss during their call center days and now is one of her employees.
advise, but most importantly she will listen.”
‘We’re never really resting on our laurels’
Until 2022, Hyde and Hungerford were a two-woman team managing an association, including hosting its annual conference — while still keenly focused on expanding both membership and member benefits.
“Our philosophy is to always be adding. We’re never quite content with where things are,” Hungerford said. “We’re driven as people, and that helps the association. We’re always looking for the next thing that’s going to help our industry.”
AAPL has a history of launching big initiatives; you can check out their full timeline at:
https://aaplonline.com/what-we-do
Guided by three committees, the association has had some hallmark wins, even as outside naysayers questioned whether it would continue to exist with only two employees at the helm.
After a restructuring period in 2019, during which Affinity Worldwide
“One of the most valuable contributions — but also a sacrifice — a leader can make is to be giving of her time. Linda takes the time to invest in her people,” Johnson said. “She believes in development both formally and informally. Often people in leadership roles do not understand that any time you spend with your direct reports is an opportunity for learning and development. She will coach and
Its Government Relations Committee advocates for the interests of private lenders in state and federal legislatures and has notched more than 15 wins since its 2018 launch. In 2020, the SEC also cited AAPL in a rule expanding the definition of “accredited investor.” The ruling opened a new avenue to additional capital sources for the private lending industry.
Linda is a rare mixture of vision and operations. She leads by example and loves our members.— Eddie Wilson, Chairman, AAPL
Meanwhile, the Ethics Committee is charged with reviewing potential violations of the association’s published standards for ethical practice and produces additional guidance via the magazine and virtual workshops.
Finally, AAPL’s Education Committee oversees everything from ideating topics for the Annual Conference to leading the AAPL’s certification courses. (There are two: Certified Private Lender Associate and Certified Fund Manager.)
Between all committees, the association has hosted nearly 80 webinars,
amassed over 800 educational articles in its online archive, and churned out more than 200 biweekly newsletters, in addition to its quarterly magazine, which is now in its 10th year.
Most recently, AAPL launched a new industry-specific online jobs board that allows both AAPL members and non-members to post and reply to positions. The association is also leading a new Borrower Fraud Steering Committee alongside its earlier forays into fraud defense, which include monitoring for cloned sites among its member websites and blocking bad
actors’ use of AAPL’s trademarked logo to defraud the public.
AAPL’s marquee production is its Annual Conference at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, which is celebrating its 15th anniversary (as is the association itself). Over the years, the conference has grown into a bonanza of courses, panels, roundtables, and vendor booths that blends networking and education — with some “classic Vegas fun” thrown in for good measure. Over the space of two days, AAPL typically packs in over 45 speakers and more
AAPL: Continues on pg. 10
AAPL: Continued from pg. 9
than 65 vendors for an attendee roster that has surpassed 700.
Along with the association staffs’ hard work ethic and commitment to supporting members is a spirit of good cheer and levity. The statement of core values on the AAPL’s Who We Are page perhaps puts it best, listing integrity, morality, and partnership, along with a fourth value — humor. “AAPL is a fun place to work ... A positive and enthusiastic association will naturally work smarter and achieve more!” it states.
Women in private lending:
‘Nobody is going to give it to you’ As the association has grown, so has its staff. In the past two years,
Hyde has made just as many hires. First was Shaylee Henning, the marketing manager and point person for AAPL’s social media channels. The two crossed paths at AAPL’s Annual Conference in 2021, which Henning’s friend attended for work while she tagged along for a chance to vacation in Las Vegas. Instead, she ended up pitching in as a volunteer at the conference.
When Hyde found out that Henning, who was in the radio industry, was looking for a change of pace, she snapped up the opportunity. “I hired her almost immediately, although we weren’t sure exactly what she was going to do at the time,” Hyde said.
The newest hire is Chrissy Spencer. The secretary at Hyde’s daughter’s
school, Spencer had heard through the school gossip grapevine that Hyde was looking for an executive assistant. She called Hyde and asked for an interview.
“She came off as smart and a leader, and I appreciated the initiative in asking to meet,” recalled Hyde. “She’s a natural people person and has quickly found her place on the team.”
“I say we’re all like puzzle pieces. Everyone fits together,” Hyde added.
AAPL, with a predominantly female staff, is the exception for the industry it serves. Although specific demographic data for private lend ing is not well-researched, in general the finance industry has a deserved reputation as something of a boys’ club.
According to a report from Deloitte Center for Financial Services, six out of 107 CEOs at S&P companies were women in 2019.
The number of women in the rank and file has increased to 52%, according to a 2021 McKinsey report. But the same report found that “their representation falls off at every step” on the corporate ladder. At the C-suite level, white women accounted for slightly less than a quarter — 23%. The disparity was even more drastic for women of color, who made up just 4% of financial services C-suite positions, according to the report.
AAPL’s nearly all-female staff is not by design, Hyde said. Her hiring philosophy is a simple one: Find the best person for the role. In the case of her staff, it just happened that women stood out as the best candidate each time.
“She understands the value of having the right people in the right seats as being critical to success,” Johnson noted of Hyde. “Allowing those people to lean on their strengths and providing the assistance or resources to assist their areas of opportunities are the reasons she has been so successful.”
The women at AAPL say their rise to positions of leadership is a story of self-empowerment. “Nobody is going to give it to you. Nobody is going to clear the way for you. But as a team, we can accomplish really great things because we trust each
Nobody is going to give it to you. Nobody is going to clear the way for you. But as a team, we can accomplish really great things because we trust each other and we allow each other room to grow.
— Kat Hungerford Digital Project Manager, AAPL
other and we allow each other room to grow,” Hungerford said.
As leader of the industry’s oldest and largest association for private lending, Hyde is in a position to do something about the lack of representation of women in finance. In her view, many well-intentioned efforts to promote women tend to single them out in a non-inclusive way, paradoxically only further marginalizing them.
Hyde offers the example of a submitted proposal for a panel at one of AAPL’s past conferences. In a nod to its attempt to prominently feature women, the panel title listed the topic with the added gender-defining appellation, “in heels.” Instead, Hyde
is keen to ensure that women are represented across the board, rather than confined only to those venues or spaces explicitly reserved as women-only.
One way she makes good on this philosophy is AAPL’s magazine: In the archive of its early issues, it features a who’s who of male leaders. But about the same time Hyde took a leading role in the association, women start popping up on the covers. As of the time of this writing, its most recent four issues happen to be dominated by women.
Just by being visible in positions of leadership, whether on the cover
of Private Lender or at AAPL itself, women can inspire others to reach higher on the corporate ladder. As the Deloitte report noted: “Our research for this series revealed a power ful multiplier effect: Each woman added to the C-suite of financial services firms resulted in a three-fold increase of women in senior leadership positions at these companies.”
Of course, there is a place for some gender-specific initiatives. AAPL supports the Women in Private Lending group, a separate organization that maintains its own ongoing rotation of events, webinars, and other activities, including a standing luncheon at the annual AAPL conference.
Increasing the ranks of women in finance at all levels in the corporate hierarchy isn’t just about equality and representation — as important as those principles are. It is also good business.
A 2022 report from the Boston Consulting Group touted the benefits women bring in terms of “innovation, resilience, and financial performance.” Another plus comes from work experience in other industries. Rather than signifying a lack of relevant experience, multidisciplinary backgrounds “potentially enhance[s] their abilities to lead enterprise-wide transformations.”
can sharpen women’s skills as organizers and their willingness to be more demanding in terms of the standards they hold themselves and others to.
The same organizational skills also mean that women can be an active parent and a fully engaged member of the workforce. “I think we can balance both, and that’s what they’re finding out as women rise through the ranks of leadership,” said Hyde, herself a mother of a 13-year-old daughter.
“She’s my whole world. She’s why I do everything,” Hyde added.
and let Eddie do all the talking,” she told a crowd of hundreds after being introduced as the new president at AAPL’s 2023 Annual Conference. “Things aren’t going to change — I’ll still be in the background.”
Hyde said her focus was instead on elevating AAPL’s members. “We’ve come really far together. This is only the beginning for us. Today is the next step in our continued growth and evolution as an association. I hope you guys are along for the ride,” Hyde said.
Another case in point is being a parent, Hyde said, which she believes
Despite taking the reins as president, Hyde hasn’t given up on her original goal of keeping a low profile. “Most of you don’t normally hear from me because I hide in the background
“Taking a beating” — a common phrase used inside the boxing ring, and in business, for over a century. It can be used to explain how the market may have left your portfolio, how bottom lines were affected after a downturn, or even the economy dragging an organization down. Boxing terminology or professional fighting phrases are used daily to explain what we, as individuals and seasoned professionals, go through to attain the experience and accomplishments we take with us on our path. When someone is fresh out of school or green to the job market (usually in their early 20s) with endless opportunities in front of them, one of the most common pieces of advice from any seasoned
industry professional is, “When the world beats you up a little bit, and you’re forced to learn how to grow, then you’ll understand.”
Most professionals don't grow just from doing the job itself. It comes from being figuratively ‘knocked down,’ or in Megan Castelton’s, Owner and COO of JWM Consulting Inc., case — literally.
If you heard a story about a golden glove hopeful and professional boxer in training who got their start by actually understanding what it means to take a hit, fall, and get back up and start again — how this professional took that experience and became an entrepreneur, an executive and business owner, most would assume it was about an
industry star like Floyd Mayweather or Mike Tyson. Most of us would never associate that storyline with a lending and finance professional, and even in the shiniest politically correct light, most would also never assume the story was about a woman. But those assumptions would be incorrect.
Megan Castleton was 19 when she took her first punch to the face. A literal punch. She was training for her amateur boxing title and had decided to pass on a full athletic scholarship to pursue fighting professionally. Castleton had Olympic dreams that were unfortunately held back by policies that did not allow Olympic female boxers until some years later. All of that grueling work
could be seen as misspent, but that would be naive. Megan believes her strengths and core beliefs stem from her time in the ring. She explains how she developed these steadfast principles in her own words:
The boxing career happened by accident. In the early 2000s, I was looking for a way to work out that would hold my attention. LA Boxing in Huntington Beach had cardio boxing classes, and a friend invited me to go with her. The rest, as they say, is history. I fell as madly in love with the sport as I did with lending when I started in the high LTV 2nd TD market in 1996. I began to train, and much like my early career formation in lending, I was watching, learning, and working with everything I had. I was transformed the first time I could wrap my hands by myself and punch
t he heavy bag. Suddenly, I was a woman who could do anything, be anything. The gym allowed me to focus, blow off steam, learn to manage a job, and a home, and focus on myself, something I didn’t have much practice doing. The fighters around me were all male, and I was resolved to be a fighter … wait, could I be like them?
When asked to step in as a sparring partner, many months after I had begun “training for fun,” I leaped at the chance. “Here, put on this headgear, hit ‘em as often as possible, and block the punches, got it?” Ding, ding, I am in the ring, and it is fight or flight time. Isn’t this how it works in business, too? You jump in, learn everything you can, test your skills, and keep adjusting, there is no going back. To be a fighter, one must be disciplined and mentally tough, know the difference between hurt and injured, and learn how to block out fear. These tools would
continue to serve me as my career grew. I had no idea that even then, I suffered from the now trendily labeled “imposter syndrome” that affects so many women in business.
While most people have stated they have felt imposter syndrome at some point in their lives, it does seem that women, especially those in professional verticals such as lending and finance, tend to have much higher numbers of those who experience this than their male counterparts. As a general example, an internal study1 by Hewlett Packard found that men apply to jobs when they only meet about 60% of the qualifications, however, women tend to apply only if they meet 100% of those qualifications. This supports other research such as a 2019 LinkedIn report2 that found that while men and women viewed nearly the same amount of jobs and
expressed similar interest in them, women were 16% less likely to apply. Overall, applying to 20% fewer jobs than men.
Boxing taught me to say yes and never quit. Even if I wasn’t getting paid, I would say yes anyway because there was an experience, a skill, or a mentor who could introduce me to the next opportunity. Here are a few of the principles I learned from my time in the ring.
and
This is why winning feels so damn good, especially when you have exhausted every fiber of your skill and being. I poured my heart and soul into my teams and job the same way I left everything I had in that ring. When I lost, or when I broke my nose, I had to choose: was I staying down, or was I getting back up? Bruised, battered, tired, sore, and a million other things, my brain screamed at me, but my heart said, ''Go!” and where my mind directed, my body followed. Limits therefore were what I made them, and I knew the extremes of my psyche and body. When applied to business, I could outwork those still learning how to deal with pain and defeat; I was battle-tested.
Shut out the negative external voices
“You can’t do that, women can’t fight.” “You’re too young/old to manage a team.” “The answer is no.” I learned to take in what was useful. A lot of times, criticism has some truth. Learn from it, interpret it, make a plan, and grow from it.
The negative external voices were like fuel — tell me no, tell me I can’t, and I WILL. Learning to temper the challenge and not be led into absurd or unproductive battles helped me accept challenges. I built a plan and executed it, attempting to take the path of least resistance where possible. I built my tribe.
Forge your network
Whether it was coaches who had professional boxing careers or, professionals in the C-suite, I found my mentors and my tribe. I built a wonderful team around me, and they inspire me daily. My tribe tells me not what I want to hear but what I need to hear. We hold each other accountable.
Develop a good strategy
Boxing is not always brute strength and size. Rely on those that you chose to be your tribe, work out the kinks in the plan, and adjust along the way. When you're down or have doubts like we all do, go over the plan and plan to win!
Listen to the voice in your head
This one I am still working on, I hope I always will be. It is taking the fear, because the negative voice in your head is truly fear-based, and learning to quiet the doubt. I focus, breathe, go over the plan, and visualize success. The voice I work on tells me it’s not perfect, but who would’ve thought a kid who started with nothing at 17, would have the career, life, mentorship, teams, and friendships I have been so blessed to have.
A close mentor always told me that when you lose, say little; when you win, say less. It is wonderful to return to your team and tribe to celebrate. You deserve to acknowledge and feel the good things your effort has yielded. Just remember that winning isn’t forever. Stay humble, stay hungry, stay focused.
Stay ready for the next fight Opportunities get missed when your focus or judgment is clouded. Dwelling on anything for too long keeps you from seeing your next possible win. Stay alert, and be ready to face each day with your eyes open and your head in the game.
Ding, ding… touch gloves, FIGHT!
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Q: Why did you choose Private Lending?
I didn’t choose private lending, it chose me! When I graduated from The Colorado School of Mines (Golden, CO) with a bachelor’s degree in economics, I was leaning toward pursuing a career as a CPA or an attorney. I’ve always been a gal who appreciates right and wrong and is task-oriented. I love spreadsheets and am very analytical. When I moved back to Northern California after graduation, my mother called me one morning and told me to go fax (yes, fax) my resume for a Financial Analyst position that she found in the Sac Bee classifieds. I did as my mother requested, and shortly after, I was offered the position.
To be honest, I wasn’t sure what the job fully entailed when I accepted the position with Blackburne & Sons Realty Capital Corporation (f/k/a Blackburne & Brown Mortgage), or what private money lending was. Like many college graduates, I found
that the next step forward was not so clear. So, I blindly jumped in to see what private money lending was all about, and the rest is history!
Q: What is your current role and what do you do day-to-day?
Lynn Capital Partners (“LCP”) just launched this past January, so my current role, or title, would be “Founder / CEO.” However, my current role would be more realistically classified as a “professional chameleon.” These days, I morph into what is needed at any given moment in time, including marketing/ networking, accounting, lead generation, licensing, compliance, and of course brokering deals. Thankfully all the “hats” I wore as I traveled along in my career are paying off!
Rotary, weekly coffee chats with other women in the area and Woodland BizLink, a small business networking group), followed by prep for upcoming meetings or events. Each day ends with a revised priority to-do list for the next day, to organize my thoughts and prioritize my tasks.
Q: What excites you about your role today?
When my husband and I decided to go all in and launch LCP, the heart of the launch was to build a business that would be able to be a “value-add” to communities and create partnerships with other people and businesses throughout the world of private money lending. This opportunity that God has granted us will not be wasted, as there is joy in having the ability to turn some people’s lemons into lemonade and reinvest into the communities that LCP serves. The opportunity to carry out the desires placed in my heart to truly give back is what excites this gal!
Q: How has the industry changed since you began your career in regard to women?
If I had to sum up a typical day, I would say it is filled with a morning of lead follow-ups and client/lender loan transaction activities, followed by various lunch-time networking and community events (i.e., local
When my career kicked off in 2003, the industry was very different. For one, it was not quite as robust as it is now. The influx of capital into this market has changed the layout and opportunities for many, including women. And two… not very many females were in management roles. Women filled more administrative or support roles. That fact, however, did not intimidate or discourage me from pursuing more within the industry. It was accepted
Angela I. Lynn: Continues on pg. 22
as a challenge to absorb knowledge, learn the business from the groundup, and seize opportunities as they presented themselves.
What was missing in 2003 and for many years thereafter, was a female role model in the industry that was a Founder, CEO, and/or powerhouse in private money lending. If there was one or many, I didn’t know, read, or hear much about her or them. Today, with social media and platforms like Originate Report, women’s successes are being highlighted and their stories are being shared, providing proof of a pathway in this industry for all women seeking to jump in.
For example, did anyone else catch Rayman “Ray” Mathoda (CEO, Anchor Loans) speak at the Geraci Innovate Conference in Newport in April? I did! She was so well-spoken, carried herself with such poise, and contributed such knowledge to the conversation. It is inspiring to read about her journey and of her accomplishments, the vision she has for Anchor Loans, and of course, I admire her commitment to teamwork and laying an organizational foundation to stand the test of time. One day I hope to have an opportunity to speak with her directly and soak in all she is willing to share. But until then, let me leave you with this. This is my open invitation for any women considering a career in private money lending to reach out to me and use me as a resource of information, contacts, and “stories” that may assist you with either your first step, or the next!
Q: Can you explain a time where you faced adversity or had struggles early on in your career? Where did it all begin? How did these experiences mold and shape you into the leader you are today? “Adversity” is such a bittersweet word. Everyone knows that we all would prefer to avoid adversity in life; however, adversity can transpire into life-long lessons and wisdom if one can accept the good, leave the bad, and move forward. That is how I have embraced the adversities I faced early on in my career, and if I can be honest, present-day as well!
One example of adversity early on in my career would be my first California Department of Real Estate (“DRE”) audit. My seat was barely warm as Controller when the DRE audit notice arrived. I had just taken over for a previous Controller that wasn’t as Type A as I was (or am), nor did they appreciate the importance of organization. May I also mention that I was 7 months pregnant with my son (who is 17 now) during this audit? Three weeks, side-by-side with DRE auditor, Helen. I would arrive early each morning before she did, work 8 hours alongside Helen, and then work late into the evening to prepare for the next day. Day in and day out, Helen worked patiently with me and poured into our processes and procedures and set us up for success. While this audit (and any audit) would be defined as adversity in its purest form of the definition, those three weeks produced perfect audit results thereafter, not just with the DRE but with other regulatory agencies, such as the SEC and DFPI.
I believe the post-audit policies and procedures I implemented back in 2006 (shout out to Helen) remain effective today, long after my departure as a Controller.
“Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. (Romans 5:3-4).
The moral of this story is that when adversity arrives, lean into it. Lessons will be learned, wisdom gained, and character formed. So next time you face adversity … embrace it!
Q: Is there anything that you wish you could go back to and tell yourself at the beginning of your career?
My initial thought on how to answer this question went directly to “if I only knew what I know now” response and how I could creatively document all the trials and errors I faced early on. However, I think I am going to answer NO to this question.
If there is anything that my path in private money lending has taught me is that nothing in this life is wasted and life is a journey. The ups, downs, the way downs, and the way, way downs… none of it was wasted. Had I not drudged my unique path, I would not be the professional, wife, mother, God-loving human I am today. God works it all out for our good and my trials were all part of my journey. I wouldn’t want to change a thing! Okay, maybe the one thing that I would tell the 20-yearold me would be to “be present” no
matter the circumstances. And never wish for tomorrow, as tomorrow is not guaranteed. So, be sure to live for today!
Q: Who is someone that has had a significant effect on your career and why?
This is probably the hardest question for me to answer, as you may run out of pages in this magazine if I were to put to paper all the people who have had a significant effect on my career.
Where I am today is a testament to many: my parents who demonstrated work ethic and unconditional love that is/was far beyond many; my family and friends who understand I can over-function at times and just nod their heads understandingly during a rant of ideas; my college volleyball coach (Thea Post) for shaping me not as just a player, but also teaching me what it means to lead a team and to truly be a team member; George Blackburne III (Owner of Blackburne & Sons) who entrusted me with opportunities that others might not have; my son who was my “why” to rise each day to set the best example possible of what integrity and hard-work looks like; my colleagues who gifted me with the nickname “Big Ang” and embraced my “Big Ang” moments; all the industry professionals (you know who you are) for answering ALL my questions and being patient as I navigated through; and last but not least, my husband. This man is truly the most unselfish, patient, and supportive soul that God placed perfectly in my path. He is the push behind LCP’s launch and continues
to believe in me, God’s vision for this business and our future together. It takes a village, and it is this village that has and continues to have, a significant impact on my career.
Q: What has been your favorite aspect of being in private lending over the years?
The relationship opportunities are my favorite aspect, for sure. I am a very relational and loyal person, almost to a fault in some cases. I’m a big believer that people do business with people, not necessarily a company. Therefore, being able to work in an industry where you can create an atmosphere like “Cheers” where everyone knows your name, is treasured.
I took a break from private money lending for almost 3 years and re-entered with the launch of LCP. Before the launch, I reached out to a few former contacts that I had worked with over the years to toss around the idea of this re-entry and the response was overwhelmingly positive and supportive. There was some doubt and negative self-talk about how I would be received back into the mix, but there I was welcomed with open arms by many and here I am today… launching my own brokerage!
Q: What would you consider to be the highlight of your career thus far?
The highlight of my career thus far would probably be being asked to be a part of this edition of Originate Report. That may seem cliché, but I am truly humbled and honored to be asked to have a platform
to share my story, my journey, and give the appropriate shout-outs to all the people who have had a hand in where I am today. It hasn’t been easy to navigate an industry that is so male-dominated, and to be able to climb the ladder, get knocked off, and then get back on the ladder to start the climb again. When I was asked if I would be interested in being featured in the Women in Real Estate edition, how could I say no? Yes, I have had successes in my career, but I’ve also had struggles and sometimes it felt like I never got off the struggle bus. So, my hope and prayer is that sharing my private money lending journey in this article may inspire another woman to take a risk, embrace adversity, and go for it!
Q: What do you enjoy most about your job? Least?
Most? Being a part of the solution and not the problem. I enjoy working in an industry where others are seeking a place of partnership, building one another up, and providing solutions to solve the unsolvable for borrowers and/or business owners. More specifically, there can be such joy in working with a borrower at the front end of what sometimes can be a difficult financial time in their lives and being able to provide a reasonable loan solution for a borrower, a reasonable return/risk investment for an investor(s), and then being able to witness a successful loan repayment. What a beautiful cycle this private money stuff can be!
Angela I. Lynn: Continues on pg. 24
Least? Sometimes the answer for a client isn’t the answer they want to hear and/or accept. Bad things happen to good people, and while there is no logical explanation, sometimes a private money loan is not the solution. More debt (especially more expensive debt) is not the answer sometimes. Borrowers sometimes want a quick fix to get them out of a tough situation, but it is a loselose situation to issue terms that would not put the borrower (and investor) in a position of success. Having those truthful, hard conversations is something that “Big Ang” doesn’t take lightly, and they still tear at my heartstrings after all these years.
Q: Is time or money more valuable and why?
Time for sure! Tomorrow is never guaranteed. Many (many) years ago, during a summer drive with my dad in his work truck, I can still recall a conversation (more like debate) I had with him about “time.” He told me “you can never get time back,” and my response was, “Yes you can! You can catch up on sleep and spend time with others later to make up missed time.” I think we ended up agreeing to disagree. But I get it now. It has been 20+ years since his passing, and it was on the day of his passing that he settled that debate. My time with him was gone, and I could never get it back. Darn, Dad was right again! One can always make more money but one can’t get back time. My dad proved that to be true!
Q: How do you make sure your company stays ahead in this industry?
I stay humble, keep my eyes, ears, and heart open to what others are doing in the industry, and work hard. I make it a point to learn something new each day that I can apply to LCP, and our clients and partners. It is especially important not to be arrogant in this industry, and always be willing to accept constructive criticism, be open to suggestions, and be willing to share what has worked (or not worked). Iron sharpens, iron! Oh, and just when you think you have done enough, do a little more!
Q: What tools do you use to aid you in your role to be most efficient, organized, and focused?
I am a big fan of a good ol’ fashioned spiral-bound planner. In college, I learned that simply writing something down on paper assists with retention. Having one place to physically write down commitments, goals, priorities, and reminders has been an essential tool to keep me organized and allows me to avoid being overwhelmed with my to-dos. Taking this one step further, I conclude each day with a review of the tasks I have accomplished (even small things), then re-prioritize my old and new tasks for the next upcoming day. Checking out for the day with my tasks organized in my mind and on paper gives this Type A peace of mind.
and staying on task. Therefore, if something pops into my mind when I am not by my computer or have my planner, I immediately email myself whatever is on my mind. Doing so allows me to get it out of my head, places the thought/ task in a place I know where to find it to add to my planner, and clears my mind for a greater chance of a good night’s sleep. TIP: For those of us that already receive so many emails … may I suggest creating a rule within your email that when an email from you that has a certain subject line, arrives in your inbox, that email will automatically move into a designated folder. That way your “thoughts” do not get lost in all the other emails and are ready for your review when you are.
Q: What advice would you give to a woman who has just started out in private lending?
Take risks! Lean into opportunities that you may shy away from due to negative self-talk and doubt. Don’t take discomfort as a bad thing and make sure you surround yourself with others who support you, build you up, and are willing to share their knowledge with you! Be a sponge and soak it all in. Knowledge is power and no one will ever be able to take that from you. Most importantly, have integrity in all you do and in the decisions you make. You can do it!
Sleep is also important! Food is good (I’m Italian and we love to eat) … but without a solid 7-8 hours of sleep it can be a disaster for my productivity
Increasing the opportunities and representation of women in the financial services industry isn’t just about the benefits equality will bring to women, it’s also about the benefits women bring to a business.
There are few places where that is so clearly exemplified as at Morton Wealth, a California-based financial advisor firm where two of the three top executive positions are held by women — with Meghan Pinchuk, as CIO, and Stacey McKinnon, as both COO and CMO. Both women are also partners in the firm.
McKinnon’s path to Morton Wealth took her through a series of other jobs, including food service, campground receptionist, restaurant
server, marketing associate, catering manager, wedding planner, barista, and fitness instructor.
When she first met Pinchuk, it was in a Pilates class she was leading.
One day, Pinchuk, who had recently become part-owner at the firm, came up to McKinnon and said, “I like your classes and I like the way you run the studio, do you want to join my firm?”
McKinnon laughed, but Pinchuk was serious.
“I certainly didn’t think those skills were connected,” McKinnon said. “But I just celebrated 10 years since Meghan made that wild ask, and can now confidently say that financial advice, wedding planning, and
instructing fitness do require one very important skill — you have to be good with people.”
Unlike McKinnon, Pinchuk has spent her whole professional life at Morton Wealth, but it was a career choice that was also unexpected. She majored in English in college and had tried a handful of internships in areas like public relations. The firm’s founder, Lon Morton, who had managed money for her grandfather and had known her since she was 12 years old, recruited her right out of college.
“He didn’t much care that I was 21, fresh out of college with an English major. If I came to him with an idea for how to make things better, he empowered me to execute on it.”
“What struck me about wealth management was how dynamic it was and how there would always be new things to learn and new challenges to tackle,” she said. “Morton’s approach to investing is drastically different than other firms in the industry in that we are always looking for new ideas and open to new investment concepts. The investments we’re researching today are very different than the ones we were focused on 10-15 years ago. This industry can be incredibly appealing and dynamic if approached with curiosity and a hunger for learning and growth.”
Pinchuk was just two years into her career as a financial advisor when the
2008 financial crisis hit. A year before, experts had predicted an economy that would slow down without entering a full-blown recession.
“The jarring reality we faced was a great lesson that no one can predict the future or markets. This experience was foundational for me in how I think about building portfolios,” Pinchuk said. “If we can add different types of investments that we believe will be more resilient in challenging environments, then our clients can sleep better at night. It’s not about avoiding volatile asset classes like stocks, but rather acknowledging that this is just one of many options and incorporating stocks as part of a truly diversified portfolio that includes other, less correlated types of investments.”
Pinchuk’s ascent at the firm was swift. After starting out as a research analyst and investment advisor, she became vice president in four years. Three years later, in 2013, she became co-president. In 2015, Financial Advisor magazine named her one of 10 young advisors to watch.
“I think the main takeaway that all can benefit from is to start with curiosity. Be curious as to why something works the way it does and how it could be better. Assuming that status quo is right is a recipe for stagnation. I feel so fortunate to be at a company where we actively empower growth and learning and curiosity,” Pinchuk said, which “also makes our company stronger and more resilient.”
Curiosity and challenging the status quo are evident in Pinchuk’s investment philosophy. While alternative investments — which encompass everything from private equity to real estate and commodities — have traditionally been viewed as riskier investments, she turns that type of thinking on its head. To Pinchuk, there is an inherent lack of reliability built into traditional asset classes like stocks. She compares it to a popularity contest: if an investor buys a $10 stock because he thinks it’s actually worth $15, the investor’s ability to make a profit depends on another person agreeing on the value of the stock and being willing to buy it at that $15 price.
Contrast alternative investments:
“Many of the alternatives we’re focused on today have more control built into them, such as in the private credit space where you can build in
contractual upfront payments and meaningful protections along the way if things don’t go according to plan. Many alternatives have ‘back-up’ plans in place so that if plan A fails, there’s a plan B to get paid back and make your return. These types of protections feel much more comfortable than hoping that someone else will agree with you on a certain stock price,” Pinchuk said.
The approach has certainly won over clients and caught the attention of the investment community. At the start of 2024, the firm had 1,147 client households and $2.53 billion assets under management (AUM).
Pinchuk and McKinnon’s positions at Morton Wealth reflect a commitment to gender balance that is reflected throughout the staff at Morton Wealth. “We are intentional about women being represented at every level of the organization. We know
that women need to see other women thriving in leadership and senior roles in the company, so we have been intentional to ensure we have shown through our actions — not just words — that women are empowered at all levels,” McKinnon said.
For Morton Wealth, having women in all roles isn’t just about equality, it’s also good business practice in a country where women control over 50% of the wealth.
“Women are tired of being underrepresented (and underpaid) in many industries. The desire for women clients to work with women advisors is higher than it has ever been. We (as women) don’t want someone to stand in front of us grandstanding, speak to us in a demeaning way, or assume that we are not financially capable. We want to work with someone that sees our ambition and wants to partner with us to help us achieve our dreams,” McKinnon said.
In a blog post recounting her experiences as a woman in a maledominated industry, McKinnon noted other advantages to hiring women that include diversity of thought. “When you put a group of like-minded people together, you get status quo results. As firms learn to value and incorporate more powerful women into leadership roles, they’ll find that their ideas and strategies
become more creative, thoughtful and innovative,” she wrote.
Despite progress, just 20 percent of leadership positions in financial services are held by women.
In some cases, women’s own success at the workplace is, paradoxically, what has held them back, according to McKinnon. “Unfortunately, many
women in financial services get stuck in ‘secretary mode’ where they are incredibly valuable at that level, and the fear of finding their replacement leaves them stuck. We’ve actively fought against that occurrence. When we see people who are talented, we partner with them to find ways to continue growing within the organization,” she said.
Morton Wealth’s commitment to hiring women also entailed eliminating another potential source of bias focusing on hiring people with backgrounds in finance. Instead, Morton Wealth’s hiring philosophy prioritizes finding people’s whose values align with their own. McKinnon describes them as “people who strive for excellence, empower others, lead with empathy, enjoy work and the impact they make, maintain engaging relationships, and are intent on acting in the best interest of others.”
“By hiring to values, instead of just credentials, we have been able to find cultural fits who we can teach the business. This has made a lot more space for women to enter the workplace and thrive,” she added.
While no woman’s experience will be the same, McKinnon points to some common barriers many face when entering the financial services industry. Trying to open up the so-called ‘boys club’ to more women is a self-defeating proposition, she notes, as such “environments are not empowering for women, and they generally choose different professions instead of fighting to be in the club.”
Another issue: “Women are often asked to prove themselves — more than men,” McKinnon added, leading to workplace environments where
women get ‘left behind,’ undermining efforts at more gender diversity. Some workplace cultures still take a ‘survival-of-the-fittest’ approach to what they do, which fails to “empower people from different backgrounds and life experiences.”
Besides removing barriers, firms must proactively work to attract women and support them in growing their careers. McKinnon says “more robust in-house training” will help level the playing field so that all employees have a chance to succeed. Seeing more women in positions of leadership and power is also likely to draw talented recruits.
“The first thing a recruit does when they are considering your firm is to look at your website. If they don’t see themselves in the faces of your people, they won’t consider the role,” McKinnon said.
But changing the way things are done in financial services goes all the way back to the curriculum for financial education. Too often people see the finance industry as being all about “data/numbers/stock analysis.”
“When in reality, being an advisor is often much closer to a therapist or counselor, especially since many firms have evolved to centralized models where advisors are no longer doing portfolio management. Advisors spend the majority of their time building relationships and helping clients sort through the complexity of their lives and decisions — advice goes far beyond the numbers,” McKinnon said. For more information, please visit: https://www.mortonwealth.com/
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Stacy Havener Founder & CEO
Havener Capital Partners
Q: Can you share a bit about your journey and how you rose to the position of CEO?
Well, first, I would identify as a founder/CEO as opposed to a CEO. Between those two things I probably identify more as a founder than I do as a CEO, and that’s probably a whole other conversation about the differences. But I was a reluctant entrepreneur — meaning I never set out with a mindset of, “I’m gonna have a business or I’m gonna be a CEO.” It was more about a door closing, I would say.
I worked for a founder/CEO as his first employee. After 7 years of working together, he decided to retire and I was lost. He encouraged me to start my own business to which I said, “I don’t know how to do that.” And he said, “No one does. You’ll figure it out.”
That was fantastic advice because you do figure it out, and you’re probably more ready than you think you are.
Q: What initially drew you to pursue a career in this field, and how did you navigate your early years in the industry?
What drew me to this field was necessity. I was not planning on a career in finance, I was planning on being a professor of literature.
But I paid my way through undergrad, and I would have to pay my way through grad school. I had stayed in touch with my high school soccer coach throughout college. He was in finance as a billion-dollar small cap equity manager, and he knew my situation. He was about to launch a new fund. So, he said “I know you need to pay for grad school. I need help launching this fund. Why don’t you come here and work with me?
Help me do this thing, save some money, and then you can go off and follow your dreams.” I did and I never left the industry.
I think it’s a great lesson in being open to things, especially early in your career, because I had a vision of what I wanted to do and why I wanted to do it. I loved words and wanted to use them, but I didn’t realize there were other ways to harness that vibe other than being a teacher. That was the only path I knew and I’m glad that necessity led me to a different path — being a storyteller in the finance and investment world.
Q: How have you built confidence and/or resiliency over the course of your career?
Trying new things and pivoting. The idea of “not being afraid to fail” is perhaps tired, but it is true. That same soccer coach who hired me? During soccer practice, one of the things he said to us was, “If you’re not falling down, you’re not trying hard enough.” This is where you try the stuff. This is where you try and you fall and you fail, because then you get better.
Q: Were there any pivotal moments or experiences that shaped your career trajectory and leadership style?
When I turned 40, I was almost 10 years into my founder’s journey and … I became a mom. It was empowering. I had less time for nonsense because I wanted to be present for my daughter.
Stacy Havener: Continues
Stacy Havener: Continued from pg. 35 of hedge funds, with lots of lawyers and all kinds of power. I had this fear that I was going to get chewed up and spit out in every negotiation. It didn’t happen.
I became braver in my authenticity, more confident in my strength, and more focused on what we need to do to move things forward.
Q: How did you overcome genderrelated barriers or biases that you encountered throughout your career?
I am often the only female in the room and at the proverbial table. I’ve always been aware of that and always been aware of how broken that is. There should be more women but at the same time, being the only woman gave me a mantle. I felt the responsibility to make other women proud. It was empowering.
When I spoke as the only female, it was a different sound than anyone else who was talking. When I had an idea, it was different than any of the other ideas at the table. I felt like a rose amongst thorns. I owned it, and maybe that was my own version of self-preservation, to not feel the pressures that are so easy to feel in that situation. Maybe that was me telling myself, ”Oh, okay, don’t worry. You’re not other . You’re special.” I believed it and I still believe it for all women.
Q: Can you discuss a particularly difficult situation you faced professionally and how you managed to navigate through it?
The thing I was most nervous about as a founder, especially in this business, is: here I am running a boutique agency as a woman, and our clients are often these very successful, smart, wealthy founders
The most difficult situations are the ones you spin up in your head that you think are going to happen, or what you think people are thinking. You create these scenarios that you’re worried about. And the reality is not nearly as bad.
Q: Have you had any mentors or role models who have inspired or guided you throughout your career journey?
Certainly, I give credit to my soccer coach and another woman that I met right after I started in this industry who took me under her wing. She taught me how to establish my reputation for my skills and my smarts, and what I brought to the table. She told me, “It’s going to be harder for you because you’re a woman, you’re young and they’re going to assume you’re just a pretty face. Show them you’ve got a beautiful brain too.”
Q: What strategies or approaches have you found most effective in balancing the demands of leadership with other aspects of your life?
I would say asking for help and having people around you who are talented enough to balance your weaknesses. My assistant has been a game changer for me — not just at work but in life. You can’t do it all, you can’t do it alone. It’s freeing when you stop trying.
I’m a fan of Calendar Zero. Everyone talks about Inbox Zero, but take a day every week, don’t put anything on your calendar and watch what happens. You will get more done in your professional life and your personal life than you’ve ever done in a day that’s filled with meetings.
Q: Looking back, is there any advice you wish you had received when you were just starting out in the industry?
As a gal who loves words, I wish someone said “Less is more in email.” If an email is longer than a few sentences or bullet points now, I don’t write it.
I’d add to that, less email, more phone. More in person. I think email is an easy place to hide. A lot of good happens when we pick up the phone or see each other face to face.
Q; How do you foster a supportive and inclusive work environment within your company, particularly for women aiming to advance in their careers?
The majority of the Havener team is female. I’m proud of that. Our mantra on teamwork and inclusivity is around unique ability. Find talented people who share your core values and have unique abilities that complement each other. It’s good for the business, but it’s really good for the people in the business, because the more time they can spend on things that light them up, the happier they’ll be, and the more successful they’ll feel.
The other mantra we have here is to treat each other like adults. Get your work done and manage your time as you need to in the way that works best for you. The people here are supported to live their life and have a job at the same time. We respect each other in all our roles.
Q: What do you believe are the key skills or attributes that aspiring female professionals should focus on developing to succeed in this industry?
This is a very technical industry, there are lots of numbers and calculations, and if you don’t understand those things, you will feel intimidated, and when you feel intimidated you won’t talk. Having that knowledge is a baseline for me because then you will have the confidence to talk out loud.
The biggest thing for me is yes, have a seat at the table, but be a voice at the table. I think the precursor to that is you have to have the confidence to use your voice, and if you feel intimidated by what’s being discussed, you won’t.
Q: Can you share a bit about your leadership philosophy and how it has evolved over the years?
Evolving from the founder who does all the jobs, to a manager, to a teacher, to a leader has been a learning journey. The whole “what got you here won’t get you there” philosophy has been instrumental in my journey.
This concept is something I have worked on the most and I am part of a coaching program that helps solidify this idea. Delegating to elevate is also really big — giving people things that are in their unique abilities which frees you to work on yours while supporting them in that process.
Authentic leadership has been my favorite leadership journey. Leading by example to show our team that people don’t want your “perfect,” they want your “real.” I love that.
Q: Can you share insights on the importance of personal branding and visibility in your career?
I think it’s the most important thing, whether you’re the face of a company as the founder or an employee in a very big company. Your personal brand is yours to own, and so many people give it away. That’s a mistake, in my opinion, because you can give it away unintentionally. Whether you choose to own your personal brand with intention or not, you have one. And it enters every room before you.
For example, let’s say you’re applying for a job or a board seat or working to get a new client. Guess what’s going to happen? You’re going to get Googled and they’re going to find your LinkedIn profile. That will be number 1 or 2 in the search results. So, if you’ve never looked at your LinkedIn profile and you’ve got no intention around it, people are still going to see it. Whether or not you
choose to own your personal brand, you have one. You might as well own it. Own your story — the previous chapters and the new ones. If you don’t, other people will write it for you.
Q: Finally, what advice would you offer to young women who are considering entering the private lending field and aspire to reach leadership positions?
Everyone’s on an adventure, and everyone cares about their adventure the most. If you want to rise into a leadership role, the way you do that is by meeting people where they are, understanding where they’re trying to go, what problems are in the way, and helping them get to their success on the other side. Big or small.
As a leader, there’s nothing better than when someone comes to me and says, “I see that problem. I have these 3 ideas on how to fix it. And I’ve researched them. And my point of view is that this option is the right way to go forward for these reasons.” You do that and you will be invaluable to the people around you. Understand the journey they’re on and help them get where they want to go.
For more information, please visit: https://www.havenercapital.com/
Like many owners or operators in private lending, the hands on a clock have no real meaning to me. We are committed to whatever it takes of time, effort, personal sacrifices, or otherwise to ensure the success of our companies. But that “whatever it takes” approach won’t come without having a purpose.
Purpose is an intriguing concept. Some discover it early on in life; for me, that wasn’t the case. While I did not wander many paths before I stumbled into the mortgage industry, I did land here quite unexpectedly, without any familial precedent or grand design — it was a literal accident, you might say. Looking back now, after three decades of diverse roles and experiences, I can confidently say it was a fortunate stumble.
This journey has shaped not only my professional identity but also my roles as a mother, a partner, and now as the founder and CEO of FIRE Capital Group, a company I believe will make a significant impact in private lending. This “rebel with a cause” venture aims not only to transform private lending but also to challenge perceptions of women in leadership roles. But my purpose may not be your own. If you haven’t considered an exercise for the who or the why you are doing what you are doing, it is an exercise that should be considered and completed. Each of us will be driven to that end by different criteria.
There is no one perfect way to get to your purpose, and these suggestions aren’t all-inclusive, but they are a good start to your purpose path. First, write down all the things you absolutely love to do in life (not just work life), look at those things, and consider the ones you do with relative ease. Take an inventory of those and see where your strengths and weaknesses are within them. Is there some common thread to be considered? If you imagined your best possible self — what is it that you are doing? Purpose is tied to your values, motivations, passions, and self-examination. It’s in there — you just have to do the work to find it.
When I was asked to contribute to this edition of Women in Private Lending, I felt both honored and reflective. I confided in a male colleague, who humorously pointed out how differently men might view such an opportunity, perhaps with
A lesson encapsulated by Dr. Seuss's timeless advice
more expectation than humility. This observation encapsulates a common sentiment among women in my field: a sense that we must downplay our achievements. I do not claim to be a mouthpiece for how other women feel about their career paths, whether in mortgage or otherwise, but I believe their stories are much like mine.
These stories often involve relentless hard work, gratitude for opportunities, and moments of vulnerability. The mortgage industry, I must admit, is not for the fainthearted. If someone had told me how hard it would be when I started, I might have taken a different path, but my hope in this reflection story is “the hard is worth it.” My Dad used to love to (and still does) tell me that “nothing worth having comes easy.” He is right, of course.
I remember being told just a couple of years ago that I wasn’t going to be CEO material. My “perspective as a woman in the industry” wouldn’t be received well. I have been told I am too soft, I am too bold, I am too [insert here]. My more polished and seasoned self refrained from a defensive response to that remark, and instead met it with an “Oh, it’s interesting you think so.” While my inner voice was screaming, “You better hide and watch.” Navigating challenges like these is difficult and frankly, exhausting, and frustrating in some situations, but have also been catalysts for me to push myself beyond any limits I have set for myself and certainly those of others. It is said, “Take the higher road, it is less traveled.” I have found that to be true.
It's fair to say that being a woman in any male-dominated field presents challenges. However, these challenges have been accompanied by profound rewards, far beyond mere financial gains. Have you ever been told, "You should write a book?" I've contemplated it often. My experiences, from amusing anecdotes to jaw-dropping tales, could fill volumes. Reflecting on
my journey, I'm reminded of Robert Fulghum’s 1986 book All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten. Tidbits of wisdom in this book include being kind, learning to share, telling the truth, and being a helper. A similar primer for certain professions might have eased some of my early frustrations. But then again, the richness of experience might have been dulled.
It is also worth noting that rewards past anything financial can be where the real “win” comes in. The things that say, “Hey girl, that passion and purpose you are putting out there every day? It’s good stuff.” I remember the first time I was asked to be on a podcast. I thought, “What the heck do I have to share or say that will be meaningful to anyone listening?” Turns out, authenticity and trying to be a good human resonates with people.
I received positive messages, texts, and other invitations to participate in other forums to share my thoughts and perspectives. Not just about mortgage lending, but about life as well. While some might consider pride to be in a standard list of sins, or contrary to heavenly virtues, this mortgage business has indeed brought me a great sense of pride and honor.
For those still reading, here are my parting thoughts: lessons are abound in life, both learned and taught. Embrace both roles with enthusiasm, and when possible, humor. If I could advise my younger self, I'd emphasize the importance of not being afraid to break a mold. A lesson encapsulated by Dr. Seuss's timeless advice: Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter, don’t mind. Master the art of balance — professional versus personal, seriousness versus finding the funny. Remember, dark cannot exist without light, and light often comes with laughter. Willow trees look fragile (much like the viewpoint of some regarding women), but their long life and the ease in which a new tree can be rooted from cuttings (rebirth/re-invention of oneself), as well as their ability to bend with whatever weather (hardship) comes their way. I am a fan of the Willow.
Lastly, trust your instincts and trust yourself. It will all work out as it should. May your journey be filled with the passion and purpose you have intentionally created.
Dana Georgiou Founder and CEO FIRE Capital Group
https://www.firecapitalgrp.com/
“At our company, we are deeply committed to empowering women both within our organization and in the broader community. Our predominantly female leadership and staff embody this commitment through various initiatives and practices aimed at fostering inclusivity, gender equality, and professional growth,” said Janine Cascio, founder and CEO. “We prioritize creating a supportive and inclusive work environment where women feel valued, heard, and empowered to thrive.”
The low female-to-male ratio in the lending industry is the result of multiple factors, according to Cascio. Undoubtedly historical gender biases, cultural norms, and unconscious bias have played a major role in that imbalance, she noted. To address those barriers and promote gender diversity in the lending industry, Cascio points
to several critical proactive steps. She encourages “female employees to pursue leadership roles and support their professional growth and advancement.” An example of this is the company’s other C-suite leader, Sydney Payne, who started as Cascio’s assistant and is now Chief Operating Officer, with three staff members reporting directly to her.
As part of its commitment to gender equality, Simplending Financial has fostered a culture of inclusivity. From mindfulness practices like sound baths and yoga flows, encouraging a healthy work-life balance, and giving back to the Houston community through volunteer events such as food drives for the homeless. “We love that we give back to the community. To know that we can make a positive impact together is why I am doing what I am doing and is why I created Simplending Financial,” Cascio said.
Simplending Financial is also taking steps to empower women outside the company, through memberships in organizations like Women in Private Lending and Texas Women Mortgage Bankers. The company’s philanthropic reach extends to a global level through donations to Girls’ Education in India.
As a female CEO Cascio is, despite progress in some areas, still an exception in the business world. According to a report by Catalyst, there were just 41 women in CEO positions — or 8.2% of the total — at companies on the S&P 500 list last year.
Cascio became a CEO after several years working at other private banks. After helping a former employer launch his own private bank venture, she found the confidence “to forge my own path and do this on my own.”
Simplending Financial: Continues on pg. 44
In the process, she “fought a lot of self-limiting beliefs,” which led to a realization: if she was facing self-doubt and questioning her abilities, other prospective women leaders might be going through the same thing. By overcoming these challenges, Cascio would not only be on the path to successfully launching her business — she could be an example for others.
“This really took the turn for me to then inspire others to achieve their goals. The best way to inspire others is to lead by example and I plan to do just that,” Cascio said.
Since its launch in August 2022, Simplending Financial has more than doubled its initial loan volume, reaching up to $5 million a month — and continues to see growth. If it stays on track it will hit the next benchmark of $10 million a month, making the annual deal volume at $100 million, according to figures provided by Cascio.
Within the lending products market, Cascio has positioned her company as a catalyst for financial empowerment and growth, which operates at the intersection of borrower needs and financial solutions. “By understanding the nuances of both sides of the lending equation, I strive to facilitate mutually beneficial arrangements that foster financial stability and prosperity for all parties involved,” she said.
Simplending Financial’s name says it all about its approach to consumers. The idea is to keep the complicated
process of obtaining a loan simple.
“We understand that navigating the world of loans can be daunting, which is why we’ve streamlined every step to make it as straightforward as possible for our clients,” Cascio said. That focus is reaffirmed in the names of their loan programs and products: SimpleFlip, SimpleBridge, SimpleBuild, and SimpleRent.
Making things simpler entails three additional things: clear communications about the terms, conditions, and requirements; a simple application process through technology that allows applicants to apply from their own home or office, minus in-person visits, and lengthy paperwork; and an underwriting process structured to expedite loan approvals, with the help of data analytics and automation.
A female CEO must have a clear mission, values, and goals to inspire her staff to align their work toward achieving them. “Both communicating that vision and leading by example helps to get employees on board,” she said.
“Drawing from a support network is essential. Surround yourself with a supportive network of mentors, advisors, and peers who can offer encouragement, advice, and perspective during challenging times.” Casico credits her mentor — Mike Tedesco — with helping her to develop the right mindset as a female CEO in the lending industry.
“Be resilient in the face of adversity, persevere through setbacks, and maintain unwavering determination to achieve your goals,” she concluded.
1 Ellingrud, K.; Krivkovich, A.; Nadeau, MC.; Zucker, J. (2021, October 21). Closing the Gender and Race Gaps in North American Financial Services. McKinsey & Company.https://www. mckinsey.com/industries/financial-services/ our-insights/closing-the-gender-and-race-gapsin-north-american-financial-services
For more information, please visit: https://www.simplendingfinancial.com/
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Lightning Docs offers a fully automated, cloud-based loan document solution. Its brief, interview-style questionnaire allows each set of documents to be tailored to your exact terms redraw fees or contract period.
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For More Information, Contact: email | phone number | website 90 Discovery, Irvine, CA 92618 | info@lightningdocs.com | (949) 379-2600 | www.lightningdocs.com
Celina Kuoch’s business acumen and leadership achievements in the private lending industry are a testament to her resilience and perseverance. At an early age, she broke barriers and paved her own way in a male-dominated industry. After winning a scholarship to attend the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, she graduated with a BA in Economics. She
Celina Kuoch Head of Debt Asset Management Man GPM
was high-achieving and motivated, and this was only the beginning.
With a focus on finance, real estate, and marketing, she was prepared for her first role as a real estate (RE) investment banking analyst at Deutsche Bank. From there, she entered the RE private equity sector, working for Wafra to lead their asset management team. “Having grit and perseverance are very important to succeed as a woman and a person in general in our business. The desire to keep learning, whether it’s from a junior colleague or more senior colleague, and the desire to take on more responsibilities are necessary motivations to have in order to further yourself in the business.”
Celina Kuoch’s experience as a woman in the male-dominated RE private lending industry was marked by her unwavering competence and resilience. Often the only woman in the room, she was always prepared,
ready to contribute valuable insights and answer questions. Her expertise and knowledge matched, if not exceeded, that of her male counterparts. Her ability to build rapport with team members, borrowers, and investors further earned her respect from colleagues and leadership.
In 2007, Kuoch ventured into a new phase of her career by relocating to Hong Kong to spearhead Urban Land Capital as their Head of Acquisition and Asset Management for RE equity investments. Leaving behind a secure and successful position at Wafra, Kuoch embraced the challenge of leading a start-up. With her partner, she assembled a team and took charge of acquiring commercial properties in India and China. The firm’s investments were promising; however, the unforeseen global financial crisis impacted the investors’ mindset. They redeemed their investments in Asia to support
their struggling North American investments. She initially saw this venture as a failure.
But now, Kuoch deems her time in Hong Kong a success. “Though it felt like a failure as we were unable to continue and raise future funds, I acquired valuable business acumen, having navigated investing in commercial real estate in foreign countries, built up my professional skills set in building lasting relationships, and gained a global view of the world as I lived abroad as an expatriate for five years. At the end, I believe it’s better to have taken risks than not to have tried at all.”
Kuoch packed up her bags in Hong Kong and returned to New York, where she worked in high yield lending at Barings for several years. A couple of years ago, she joined Man Group and is now Head of US Residential Debt Asset Management.
At Man Group, she leads the asset management team tasked with executing business strategies for their residential and multi-family debt portfolios. Her team’s efforts are focused on enhancing the long-term value of the residential properties. Kuoch’s team is integral to Man Group’s extensive $25 billion private credit lending business. Man Group is a prominent entity in the hedge fund sector and is publicly listed on the London Stock Exchange and managing assets totaling approximately $175 billion. Her team is driving the expansion of the firm’s senior secured residential lending strategy.
Looking ahead, Kuoch is optimistic about increasing gender diversity in finance. “I feel gender diversity is starting to take hold in this decade in the finance world. For firms that are in the private lending industry, I hope they can start to recruit women from universities, as that is the start of professional awareness of our industry.” Combining the unique skills of men and women working together in private lending will only increase the industry’s success.
Kuoch offers advice to women starting out in the industry: “For a young woman who has an interest in private lending, I would suggest having a passion to be in real estate and learning and applying good technical finance skills. Technical skills are one side of the coin, and people skills are the other side in attaining business acumen. And always ask questions when you’re not sure of something, so you can
learn from your colleagues.” There are so many aspects of the industry, including brokerage, legal, and servicing and they all need strong women leadership at the helm.
Kuoch is committed to fostering inclusion within the industry and works to leave a lasting mark. “In a small way, I hope to champion the inclusion of minorities in my involvement as an Executive Committee Member with Minorities in Restructuring and Alternative Investments through the events we host. In addition, I volunteer for the Wharton School as Co-Chair of The Wharton Real Estate Investment Group, where we put together educational seminars in which we value women speakers.” By championing diversity and inclusion, Kuoch is sure to make a lasting impression on those desiring to follow in her footsteps and break their own glass ceilings.
Celina Kuoch’s career is a powerful illustration of what women can achieve in the private lending sector, an area once perceived as an unlikely place for female leadership. Her success not only challenges traditional gender roles but also sets a significant precedent for what diverse leadership can accomplish in finance.
Lee’s Summit, MO, May 17, 2024 – Liquid Logics, the nation’s premier technology company in private and hard money lending, is proud to announce a groundbreaking integration with TrustPoint. This strategic partnership enhances our platform, offering an unprecedented solution for managing construction draws coupled with comprehensive operational and portfolio risk management analytics.
As the leader in private lending software, Liquid Logics has been dedicated to providing the most advanced Loan Origination Software and a complete suite for managing loans. Our platform is renowned for its comprehensiveness, customization, and completeness, making it the most powerful, robust, and secure Cloud-Based Loan Management System available for private and hard money lenders.
With the integration of TrustPoint, Liquid Logics continues to lead the industry in innovation and efficiency. This collaboration introduces a seamless solution for private lenders, enabling them and their borrowers to manage construction budgets and draws with unparalleled precision and user satisfaction while leveraging sophisticated predictive risk management analytics.
“We are excited to partner with TrustPoint AI to bring this revolutionary integration to our clients,” said Sam Kaddah, CEO at Liquid Logics. “By combining our expertise in private lending technology with TrustPoint AI’s cutting-edge construction fund control and risk management analytics, we empower lenders with a more streamlined process, increased efficiency, and better-informed decision-making for their projects.”
“We are thrilled to provide this integration with Liquid Logics to the private lending sector,” said John Ryan, COO and Co-founder at TrustPoint. “Combining Liquid Logics’ powerful and proven capabilities with TrustPoint’s next-generation solutions was a no-brainer for our mutual clients, and we are excited to now offer this option for an integrated solution to the broader industry.”
Liquid Logics remains committed to staying ahead of the curve in technology and lending solutions. This integration with TrustPoint AI underscores our dedication to providing our clients with the tools they need to succeed in today’s competitive market.
About Liquid Logics:
Liquid Logics is the nation’s leading technology company in private and hard money lending. Our comprehensive suite of Loan Origination Software and loan management tools empowers lenders to streamline processes, mitigate risk, and drive business growth.
About Trust Point AI: TrustPoint.ai is a leading SaaS technology platform for the construction, renovation, and bridge lending industry. Our innovative, high-ROI solutions offer data-driven portfolio and operational risk management, auditable fund control, project health scoring, and predictive insights and reporting.
Offering Received Broad Participation From 46 Investors
NEW YORK, April 09, 2024 – Genesis Capital LLC (“Genesis”), a leading business purpose lender that provides innovative debt solutions to professional real estate developers for new acquisition, renovation, ground-up construction, and long-term rental hold projects across the residential spectrum, today announced it has completed a $500 million rated securitization backed by residential transition loans (“RTL”). The transaction, which received support from 46 investors, represents the largest-ever rated residential transition loan securitization and the first rated transaction focused on ground-up construction.
The deal’s structure featured three classes of offered bonds ranging from A (low) rated to BB (low) rated bonds.
Goldman Sachs led the offering and served as an initial purchaser along with Deutsche Bank Securities, Morgan Stanley, Nomura, and Performance Trust.
“With the successful close of the largest-ever rated RTL, institutional investors are now able to participate in the RTL market. This is an exciting moment for the residential housing sector, and we are confident that the support of our parent company Rithm Capital Corp., our robust underwriting process, our deep and talented team, and our commitment to maintaining strong credit quality across our portfolio has positioned us to capitalize on a broad range of opportunities ahead,” said Clint Arrowsmith, President of Genesis. “This transaction will provide additional capital for Genesis’ next phase of growth and will enable us to build on our extensive track record of partnering with sophisticated, tenured development professionals to support construction and renovation projects across the residential sector.”
“This transaction is an important step in our commitment to expanding origination capacity across the Rithm platform,” said Michael Nierenberg, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President of Rithm Capital Corp (“Rithm”). “The offering will enhance Genesis’ ability to provide innovative, tailored capital solutions to high-quality developers. Genesis sits at a critical position in the residential real estate value chain, and we look forward to continuing to work with their team to meet strong nationwide demand for residential construction and renovation financing.”
This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of such jurisdiction.
(“Rithm”)
Genesis Capital is the preferred capital partner for professional real estate investors seeking prompt and innovative financing solutions that support the full life cycle of their residential projects. The company leverages its expertise, proprietary data and long-term borrower relationships to deliver both agility and speed as well as reliable, integrated high-touch customer service. Headquartered in Sherman Oaks, California, Genesis has over 140 full-time employees today.
Rithm Capital Corp. (NYSE: RITM) is a global asset manager focused on real estate, credit and financial services. Rithm makes direct investments and operates several wholly-owned operating businesses. Rithm’s businesses include Sculptor Capital Management, Inc., an alternative asset manager, as well as Newrez LLC, and Genesis Capital LLC, leading mortgage origination and servicing platforms. Rithm seeks to generate attractive risk-adjusted returns across market cycles and interest rate environments. Since inception in 2013, Rithm has delivered approximately $5.0 billion in dividends to shareholders. Rithm is organized and conducts its operations to qualify as a real estate investment trust (REIT) for federal income tax purposes and is headquartered in New York City.
This communication contains forward-looking statements related to Genesis within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, some of which are beyond Genesis’ control. Expectations for Genesis’ future necessarily involve a number of assumptions, judgments and estimates, and various factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the expectations expressed in these and other forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements contained herein speak only as of the date hereof, and each of Genesis and Rithm expressly disclaims any obligation to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in the expectations with regard thereto or change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any statement is based. New risks and uncertainties emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for Genesis or Rithm to predict or assess the impact of every factor that may cause their actual results to differ from those contained in any forward-looking statements.
With this new fundraising round, Backflip has raised $95 million in cumulative equity and debt
DALLAS, April 29, 2024 – Backflip, the all-in-one real estate and financial technology platform for real estate entrepreneurs, announced today its $15 million Series A led by FirstMark Capital, early investors in category-defining platforms Airbnb, Shopify, and Pinterest. Previous investors Vertical Venture Partners, LiveOak Venture Partners, Revel Partners, ECMC, the real estate company Crow Holdings, and notable angels Greg Waldorf, Rob Barber, Gregg Freishtat, CEOs and former Board Members at Zillow, Attom Data, and GreenSky, respectively, also participated in the round.
The funding round comes after the company crossed $10 million in net revenue run rate – reaching near profitability. Backflip grew its revenue run rate 5x year-over-year in 2023 despite housing market headwinds, with members analyzing an average of $5 billion in properties each month on the platform.
Backflip is driving the future of real estate entrepreneurship through an end-to-end platform serving a like-minded community. The company’s purpose-built technology and capital solutions enable members to efficiently manage their investment pipelines, secure funding, and grow their real estate investment business.
“Backflip is not just about flipping houses; it’s about flipping the script on the why, how and what it means to be a real estate entrepreneur,” said Backflip CEO Josh Ernst. “Over 400,000 homes are flipped every year in the U.S. and growing. Our mission is to help everyone access the funding and tools they need to participate. We put information, support, and capital products designed for entrepreneurs in the hands of more individuals in an industry that has historically had too many barriers to successfully starting and scaling. In doing so, we’re empowering our members to rejuvenate communities one modernized home at a time.”
Backflip enables individual entrepreneurs to revitalize the housing market through the acquisition and renovation of single-family homes, having funded over 900 homes to date. Members have realized an average gross profit of $82,000 per property on the platform, and typically repay their loans in six months. Backflip’s approach and underwriting processes are designed to achieve investment-grade credit ratings and have led to a track record of exceptional loan performance.
Backflip’s platform offers a seamless experience through its mobile and desktop apps, granting members access to relevant real-time data to make informed decisions while on the move or from their desk. The Backflip app which has been referred to as an “analyst in your pocket” — helps members source, track, comp, and evaluate potential investments in addition to securing project financing through Backflip.
“We are thrilled to lead Backflip’s Series A to continue the work of building the financial operating system for this integral but overlooked part of the real estate value chain,” said Adam Nelson, Managing Director at FirstMark. “The Backflip team has combined deep product empathy, technology and capital formation to build a 10x better product for their members.”
Backflip is a real estate financial technology company that supports entrepreneurs to acquire and renovate single family homes, thereby reinvigorating the housing supply and their local communities. The company offers purposebuilt technology and capital products to source, analyze and finance residential real estate investments. Backflip is an all-in-one platform providing entrepreneurs with the technology, data, and financing strategies that allows them to scale their businesses. Visit www.backflip.com or download the app at the iOS App Store or Google Play Store to learn more. Backflip originates loans through its subsidiary, Double Backflip, LLC. NMLS ID # 2482717nmlsconsumeraccess.org . Equal Housing Lender.
NEW YORK, May 20, 2024 – Saluda Grade, an alternative asset management platform focused on emerging asset classes within the U.S. real estate sector, is thrilled to announce being awarded both RMBS Issuer of the Year and RMBS Deal of the Year at the 2024 GlobalCapital US Securitization Awards held Thursday, May 16th in New York City.
Saluda Grade was awarded Residential Mortgage-Backed Securities (RMBS) Issuer of the Year over industry giants, including Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, cementing its leadership position in the RMBS securitization market.
The RMBS Deal of the Year, UNLOK 2023-1, was a groundbreaking close of the industry’s first rated securitization backed by Home Equity Agreements (HEAs). This securitization has helped solidify HEAs as a well-structured consumer finance product valuable to both homeowners and investors.
The GlobalCapital US Securitization Awards feature leading banks, issuers, deals, investors, and service providers within the industry. The awards showcase those firms recognized as leading sponsors within their peer group, with winners selected through an industry vote.
“These wins are a testament to the dedication of our team and our continued effort to deliver differentiated investment opportunities to the securitization markets and our institutional investor partnerships,” said Saluda Grade Founder & CEO Ryan Craft.
Saluda Grade had a solid finish to 2023, closing five deals (~$1.6B in total) in Q4. Included among these deals was the inaugural securitization of Home Improvement Loans originated by Momnt and the largest ever construction loan securitization, which was comprised of loans originated by Builders Capital. The momentum has continued in 2024 with Saluda Grade closing an additional five deals (~1.3B in total) year to date.
Overall, Saluda Grade has completed 33 securitizations (~$7.8B in total) since its inception, establishing itself as a market leader across alternative mortgage and residential adjacent assets.
About Saluda Grade:
Saluda Grade is an alternative asset manager focused on opportunities in asset backed finance, real estate debt and equity, and hard asset sectors. Headquartered in New York City, the Firm was founded in 2019. See saludagrade.com for additional information.
Disclaimer:
This press release is for informational purposes only and is neither an offer to sell nor the solicitation of an offer to any for any other securities, and shall not constitute an offer, solicitation or sale. Any offers will be made only by means of a private offering memorandum.
The RMBS Issuer of the Year award for 2023 was open to anyone active in the securitization market and recipients of the award were based on organizations which had been involved in the most innovative or challenging transactions, the quality of execution and structuring; investment, growth, and progression in the business, or those who stood out for the breadth and depth of their securitization franchises. There were 7 finalists considered for this award. Saluda Grade did not pay a fee to be considered for this award.
The RMBS Deal of the Year award for 2023 was open to all US RMBS deals issued in 2023. Deals were considered based on their impact on the market, how well they timed and read the market and their reach among investors, as well as innovation. There were 5 finalists considered for this award. Saluda Grade did not pay a fee to be considered for this award.
Lee’s Summit, MO, June 3, 2024 – Liquid Logics is proud to announce that we have been in business for 20 successful and innovative years! Over the past two decades, we have continuously modernized the way private lending is handled in this ever-changing digital world. Our commitment to constant evolution ensures we stay ahead of the times, making the jobs of private lenders much easier.
Since its inception, Liquid Logics has been at the forefront of the industry, supporting over 12,000 brokers, correspondents, loan officers, and account executives. With an impressive track record of generating approximately 1,500 closed loans per month for First Horizon Bank, a national specialty home lending institution, Liquid Logics has played a crucial role in managing an annual loan volume exceeding $2 billion.
While loan origination and servicing are at the core of our offerings, Liquid Logics provides a wide array of loan management solutions that extend beyond these functions. As a NextGen FinTech company, we offer the only true full cloud-based SaaS Loan Management System. Our comprehensive loan management solutions include:
• CRM/Lead Pipeline Management
• LOS Full Workflow
• Loan Processing
• Automated Credit & Underwriting
• Loan Servicing
• Reporting
• Closing Documents
• Three Types of Fund Pool Management Structures
Our system is designed with the borrower experience at its heart, emphasizing simplicity and speed. We are passionate about helping private lenders enhance their operations by streamlining their loan processes. Our commitment to making our software the best in the market is unwavering, and we continuously strive to meet the evolving needs of our users.
Sam Kaddah, CEO of Liquid Logics, reflects on this milestone: “Reaching our 20th anniversary is a testament to our dedication to innovation and excellence. We are incredibly proud of the impact we have made on the industry and the continued trust our clients place in us. As we look to the future, we remain committed to providing cutting-edge loan management solutions that drive growth and efficiency for our clients.”
As we celebrate this significant milestone, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to our clients, partners, and team members who have been instrumental in our journey. Join us at Liquid Logics and take your business to the next level. We look forward to growing with you in the years to come! Here’s to many more years of success and innovation.
Liquid Logics is a leading loan management solutions company that provides innovative software designed to facilitate growth, minimize workload, and enhance business operations for clients. With a focus on simplicity and speed, our cloudbased SaaS Loan Management System offers comprehensive tools to streamline loan processes for private lenders.
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